Progressive Rock Top Trumps

[MontyVeda]

I had one of those random thoughts last night:

Did they ever do a prog rock top trumps?

...as in the card game that boys love.

I checked and they don't

However, if they did do a Prog Rock Top Trumps, which 24 or 30 prog rock groups would be in the pack and what would the 5 or 6 categories be?

I was thinking along the lines of:

Hawkwind

musical ability: 2
record sales: 2
looks/coolness: 2
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 7

 

[guitarpete247]

Ok then.

What about

ELP

Music ability: 9
Record sales: 5
Looks/Coolness: 4
Longevity: 1
Good LP covers: 5

 

[accountantpete]

FTFY
Hawkwind

musical ability: 2
record sales: 2
looks/coolness: 2
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 7
Stacia:2

 

[MontyVeda]

maybe we should split the looks/coolness category thus:

hawkwind:
musical ability: 2
record sales: 2
coolness:2
ugly factor: 6
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 7
stacia: 3

 

[dan_bo]

Ladies n gennlemen: Pink Floyd.

musical ability: 10
record sales: 11
looks/coolness: 2
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 11
Stacia:0
Capacity to induce suicidal thoughts:11.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Rush

musical ability: 10
record sales: 8
looks/coolness: 3
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 8

Tool

musical ability: 9
record sales: 7
looks/coolness: 7
longevity: 7
good LP covers: 10

 

[Noodley]

maybe we should split the looks/coolness category thus:

hawkwind:
musical ability: 2
record sales: 2
coolness:2
ugly factor: 6
longevity: 10
good LP covers: 7
stacia: 3

Norks: 2

 

[TVC]

Marillion

musical ability: 6
record sales: 5
looks/coolness: 2
longevity: 2
good LP covers: 9
Being a decade too late: 10

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Some different categories if required...

1. Width of shirt sleeve
2. Quantity of keyboards
3. Length of hair and lankness combined with how thin on top
4. Quantity of LPs in set, 3 or 4+
5. Gatefold sleeveiness
6. Mythical imagery on record cover
7. Excessive solos
8. Self indulgence
9. Quantity of necks on guitar
10. Bonus point for no Rick Wakeman

 

[ColinJ]

In case you hadn't noticed (and it is a bit of a coincidence if you hadn't!) and you happen to care - there are 2 programmes about Prog Rock on BBC4 tonight.

22:00–23:00 Prog at the BBC :
Includes Yes, Genesis, ELP, Caravan, Barclay James Harvest, Gentle Giant, and Family.

23:00–00:30 Prog Rock Britannia: An Observation in Three Movements
Documentary about progressive music and the generation of bands that were involved.

I was into that kind of stuff in the early 70s but punk blew it all away.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I was into that kind of stuff in the early 70s but punk blew it all away.

Good riddance - never trust a hippy!

 

[MontyVeda]

there's a top 200 prog rock list here;
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_artistsprog.html

here's their top 30:
1. Yes
2. King Crimson
3. Genesis
4. Emerson Lake & Palmer
5. Pink Floyd
6. Rush
7. Jethro Tull
8. Mothers of Invention
9. Dream Theater
10. Kraftwerk
11. Traffic
12. Dixie Dregs
13. Gentle Giant
14. Van der Graaf Generator
15. The Moody Blues
16. Marillion
17. Frank Zappa
18. Magma
19. Gong
20. Kansas
21. Tangerine Dream
22. Caravan
23. Mahavishnu Orchestra
24. The Soft Machine
25. Family
26. Hawkwind
27. Mike Oldfield
28. Uriah Heep
29. Camel
30. Rick Wakeman

but i think these should be in the top trumps deck too:

36. Can
41. Electric Light Orchestra
44. Amon Düül
47. Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
54. Asia
64. Opeth
78. Hatfield & the North
88. The Nice
107. Steve Hillage
108. Egg

but who to kick out???

edit... just noticed the criteria for the above chart. It reads:

These bands were chosen for their complex, dynamic, & multi-dimensional playing. For their original use of multi-movement compositions involving theme, structure and scope in addition to their impact on this vital genre of music.

...how come hawkwind got in then?!?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Let Kraftwerk go free, they're class not prog.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

No to Zap and Beefheart too.

 

[MontyVeda]

aye Zappa gets his nose in with the The Mother's I guess. One of them should go.

in no particular order... my 30 is:

1. Yes
2. King Crimson
3. Genesis
4. Emerson Lake & Palmer
5. Pink Floyd
6. Rush
7. Jethro Tull
8. Mothers of Invention
9. Can
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. Amon Düül
12. Asia
13. The Nice
14. Van der Graaf Generator
15. Steve Hillage
16. Marillion
17. Egg
18. Magma
19. Gong
20. Big Amongst Sheep
21. Tangerine Dream
22. Caravan
23. Mahavishnu Orchestra
24. The Soft Machine
25. Family
26. Hawkwind
27. Hatfield & the North
28. Opeth
29. Camel
30. Rick Wakeman

although I reckon Rick Wakeman is in the right place